Patent · US Expired

Copper interconnect barrier layer structure and formation method

US6607976B2 · kind B2 · utility

241Cited by
14References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 25, 2001
Grant dateAug 19, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 25, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for forming a tungsten-containing copper interconnect barrier layer (e.g., a tungsten [W] or tungsten-nitride [WXN] copper interconnect barrier layer) on a substrate with a high (e.g., greater than 30%) sidewall step coverage and ample adhesion to underlying dielectric layers. The method includes first depositing a thin titanium-nitride (TiN) or tantalum nitride (TaN) nucleation layer on the substrate, followed by the formation of a tungsten-containing copper interconnect barrier layer (e.g., a W or WXN copper interconnect barrier layer) overlying the substrate. The tungsten-containing copper interconnect barrier layer can, for example, be formed using a Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) technique that employs a fluorine-free tungsten-containing gas (e.g., tungsten hexacarbonyl [W(CO)6]) or a WF6-based Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technique. The presence of a thin TiN (or TaN) nucleation layer facilitates the formation of a tungsten-containing copper interconnect barrier layer with a sidewall step coverage of greater than 30% and ample adhesion to dielectric layers. A copper interconnect barrier layer structure includes a thin titanium-nitride (TiN) (or tantalum nitride [Ta…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.